Gov. Nikki Haley, (R-SC), speaks during her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Jan. 18, in Washington, D.C. Haley was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to become representative of the United States of America to the United Nations. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Sky is the limit for the U.S.-India relationship and President Donald Trump is keen to see the two countries doing more together, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said, writes Lalit K. Jha.

Haley’s remarks came during her luncheon meeting with the Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Navtej Singh Sarna, at his residence, Jan. 30.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being aggressive in pursuing economic and administrative reforms, Haley told a select gathering of Indian Americans that the Trump administration has also undertaken a similar operation.

“It makes sense for the two democracies, having so much in common values to work together,” the Indian American diplomat said.

Haley, 46, is the first ever Cabinet-ranking Indian American in any U.S. presidential administration.

Haley said when she entered the Trump administration, she desperately wanted to see the U.S.-India relations to be very strong “which wasn’t the case during the last two presidencies.”

“It didn’t make sense to me because when you look at the values, they’re the same. When you look at the work ethics and what they believe from a corporate standpoint—the same.

When you look at the research and all the things that we do, these two democracies have so much in common,” she said.

“We’re seeing a growing interest, and a growing relationship and seeing that happen. The president is very, very fond of what is happening with India, growing that relationship trying to make sure that we do more with India,” Haley said.

“I think that sky’s the limit now. We are going to continue to try and show the values of India to the United States and continue trying to show the values of the U.S. to India,” she said.

Haley said Modi was aggressively pursuing reforms and changes in India.

“He very much wants to streamline and do all of these reforms, that are very true for this (Trump) administration too. So, I think it’s a good combination to have them (Trump-Modi) together,” Haley said.

In his remarks, Sarna described Haley as the “star” of the Trump administration.

“It is always a delight to see the sense of pride that Ambassador Haley has in her Indian roots, and the high value she attaches to the India-U.S. relationship even as she plays such a prominent role in the American political sphere,” Sarna told PTI.

Sarna said Haley’s story really showed that “can’t is not an option.”

“Coming from a family of immigrants, coming from a relatively small rural town and moving so quickly to hold the post of governor was in itself a huge achievement,” said Sarna.

Haley before her posting at the UN had served as the governor of South Carolina.

“From there to here when over the last one year we have seen you become, if I may say so, the star of this administration,” he said.